Iowa attorney general's office crime victim assistance division

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1 THOMAS J. MILLER From: Janelle Melohn,Director, Crime Victim Assistance Division, Iowa Attorney General’s Office Date: March 31, 2018 Re: Chronicle of Women, Men, and Bystanders Killed in Domestic Violence Crimes January 1995 through March 2018 This document includes information about the murders of 301 people killed in domestic violence murders since January 1, 1995 in Iowa. Please look carefully at the cases from your service area in this document. If you see corrections, additions, or deletions, contact our office with that information at 1-800-373-5044 or email Brynne Howard at brynne.howard@ag.iowa.gov.

Distribute this list to your staff, outreach offices, and local collaborators. Make sure anyone who needs or wants the updated information receives this document. This information may be useful in your observance of Domestic Violence Awareness Month 2018. The included three lists tell the final stories of people who have been killed or reported to have been killed in Iowa in domestic violence related murders from 1/1/95 through 3/31/18. Please treat this information with the dignity and respect deserved by each of the persons noted. 2 women. 2 men and 1 bystander have been added to the list since it was last distributed in September 2017.

There is a short summary of each murder and statistical summaries for each list. There is also a statistical list of the combined data of the three lists.

The information in this document is public information and was gathered from the Crime Victim Compensation Program, designated Iowa domestic abuse programs, law enforcement reports, prosecutor reports, and media. Each of the three lists gives a short summary of each homicide case: 1. Women murdered by an intimate partner: A woman was killed by her spouse, former spouse, intimate partner she has lived with, dated, or had a child with. 2. Men murdered by an intimate partner: A man was killed by his spouse, former spouse, intimate partner he has lived with, dated, or has a child with.

Bystanders murdered in a domestic abuse related crime: A person killed at the scene of a domestic abuse murder or was related to domestic abuse committed against a family member, friend, or another. The statistical summaries include: 1. An OVERALL statistical summary combining data from the other three lists. 2. A statistical summary of the women killed by their current or former intimate partner; 3. A statistical summary of the men killed by their current or past intimate partner; and 4. A statistical summary of the bystanders killed in a domestic violence crime. The next update of this list will be distributed September 30, 2018.

3 3/2018 IOWA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE DIVISION IOWANS MURDERED: RELATED TO INTIMATE PARTNER DOMESTIC ABUSE General Analysis of Cases* Women, Men, and Bystanders 301 IOWANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN DOMESTIC ABUSE MURDERS SINCE 1/1/1995: 204 women have been killed by their partners; 39 men have been killed by their partners; 58 bystanders have been killed in domestic violence murders.

Perpetrators who killed in domestic abuse murders: 259 persons were killed by men; 42 persons were killed by women (1 in collaboration with his mother); Relationship of the victim to the offender: 272 Adults were killed in domestic abuse murders 117 adults were killed by their spouse or former spouse: 98 women were killed by men; one murder had 1 female accomplice. 19 men were killed by women; one murder had 2 male accomplices. 64 adults were killed by partners they lived with or had lived with: 56 women were killed by men; 8 men were killed by a woman; 1 with a male accomplice. 45 adults were killed by people they had dated: 34 women were killed by men, 1 with a female accomplice.

11 men were killed by women, 1 with a male accomplice. 11 adults were killed by a person with who they had a child in common: 10 women were killed by men; 1 man was killed by a woman. 13 adults were killed by a companion’s former intimate partner: 11 men were killed by men; 2 women were killed by a woman. 5 adults were parents of a domestic abuse victim; 10 adults were a perpetrator or victim’s other family members, friends, or others at the scene. 29 Children were killed in domestic abuse murders 17 children were killed by their fathers; 4 in-uteri fetus were killed by their fathers 1 child was killed by her stepfather; 6 children were killed by a man that lived with them and their mother; 1 child was killed by a man who had dated her mother; Method of Homicide: 160 women, children, and men were shot to death.

73 women, children, and men were strangled, beaten, hit by a car, or drowned to death. 51 women and men were stabbed to death.

3 persons were given an overdose of medication 4 persons were burned to death. 3 persons were killed in deliberate car crashes. 4 persons were killed by an unknown method (JC, EM) Perpetrator outcomes: 94 perpetrators committed suicide after the murder: 90 men committed suicide; [Note: 9 other men survived suicide attempts] 1 man committed suicide in prison after conviction; 2 women committed suicide; 149 men and women were found guilty of or pled guilty to homicide or related crimes: 114 men were found guilty or pled guilty; 35 women were found guilty or pled guilty; 3 women were not charged.

2 were acquitted of murder charges (1 woman; 1 man); 1 man is reported to have committed the murder in another country and remains uncharged; 1 man fled the country and was convicted of murder in that country; 2 men died of illness prior to charging; 10 defendants have charges pending against them (5 men, 5 women). Child survivors of the women and men killed by their partners: 347 daughters and sons survive these women and men: 219 of the surviving children were minors. 92 children were present at the scene of the murder.

4 3/2018 IOWA ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE CRIME VICTIM ASSISTANCE DIVISION IOWA WOMEN MURDERED BY THEIR INTIMATE PARTNERS General Analysis of Cases* 204 IOWA WOMEN HAVE BEEN KILLED IN DOMESTIC ABUSE MURDERS SINCE 1/1/95: 9 women were killed in 1995; 8 women were killed in 1996; 8 women were killed in 1997; 11 women were killed in 1998; 6 women were killed in 1999; 10 women were killed in 2000; 7 women were killed in 2001; 7 women were killed in 2002; 8 women were killed in 2003; 10 women were killed in 2004; 11 women were killed in 2005; 16 women were killed in 2006; 4 women were killed in 2007; 11 women were killed in 2008; 9 women were killed in 2009; 15 women were killed in 2010; 8 women were killed in 2011; 8 women were killed in 2012; 5 women were killed in 2013; 8 women were killed in 2014; 8 women were killed in 2015; 9 women were killed in 2016; 6 women were killed in 2017; 2 women have been killed so far in 2018.

Perpetrators who killed women: 98 women were killed by husbands or former husbands; 56 women were killed by men they lived with or had lived with; 34 women were killed by men they dated or had dated; 10 women were killed by men with whom they had a child in common. Perpetrator outcomes: 90 men committed suicide after the murder 1 man committed suicide in prison after conviction; 111 men and women were found guilty of homicide or other crimes (109 men; 2 women) 1 man was acquitted of murder charges; 2 men died from illness prior to charging; 1 man allegedly committed the murder in another country and remains uncharged; 5 men have charges pending, 1 woman has charges pending; 1 man fled the country and was convicted of murder in that country.

Relationships ended: 78 women were known to have left or been leaving the partner. Method of homicide: 109 women were shot to death; 50 women were strangled, beaten, or hit by a car to death; 31 women were stabbed to death; 2 women were burned to death in their homes; 2 women were killed by an overdose of medication or drugs; 2 women were killed in deliberate car crashes; 5 causes of death are undetermined (JC, EM, BW) Children surviving the killed women: 308 daughters and sons survive these murdered women: 186 of the surviving children were minors at that time of the murder. 69 of the children were present at the scene of the murder.

Other persons killed in the crime: 27 children of the victims; 5 parents of a victim; 1 mother of the perpetrator; 1 sibling of the perpetrator; 3 friends of the victim; 1 woman in the care of the victim; 6 men were killed who were dating or living with a domestic abuse survivor. * This data is limited to current public information from the Crime Victim Compensation Program, a domestic abuse program, law enforcement, a prosecutor's office, or the media.

5 3/2018 Iowa Attorney General's Office Crime Victim Assistance Division Iowa Women Murdered by Their Intimate Partners * This data is limited to current public information from the Crime Victim Compensation Program, a domestic abuse program, law enforcement, a prosecutor's office, or the media. 2018 01/28/18 Paiten Sullivan, 17, reported stabbed to death in Sioux City by her ex-boyfriend, Tran Walker, 18. Paiten and Walker were reportedly previously involved in a romantic relationship. Police responded to reports of victims with multiple stab wounds. Paiten was transported to Mercy Medical Center-Sioux City where she was pronounced dead as a result of the injuries.

Paiten’s friend, Felipe Negron Jr. attempted to intervene and also died as a result of multiple stab injuries. Walker was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and currently awaits trial.

03/03/18 Krista Hesebeck, 38, reported stabbed to death in Lakota by her boyfriend, Chad Dietrick, 45. Deputies responded to a call about a domestic dispute and found Krista unresponsive and covered in blood. She died after suffering multiple stab wounds to her upper body. Dietrick reportedly admitted to stabbing Krista and was arrested by authorities after he was found at the home of his parents. Dietrick was charged with first degree murder and is currently awaiting trial. Krista is survived by three children.

2017 01/25/17 Marilyn Miller, 83, shot to death in Waterloo by her husband, Neil Miller, 86.

Police responded to a park in Waterloo where they found Marilyn deceased in her car with a gunshot wound along with her husband with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The family reports the couple had “medical issues and did not want to go to a nursing home”. 02/13/17 Rasema Keco, 51, stabbed to death in Des Moines by her estranged husband, Ekrem Keco, 58. Ekrem Keco was released from jail after he was arrested and there was a protective order in place prohibiting Keco from being at the residence. Rasema and her 17 year old son were asleep when Ekrem Keco broke into the house and killed Rasema.

Her son called 911 and Keco fled. After about 20 minutes, authorities spotted his vehicle, however he led them on a high speed chase on I-80 where he crashed into the back of a semi and died at the scene of the crash. Rasema is survived by three children. 03/31/17 Samantha Link, 21, stabbed to death in Dubuque by her boyfriend, Fontae Beulow, 25. Police were called to an apartment for a stabbing. Beulow met them at the apartment and reported an argument where Samantha stabbed herself in the stomach. Police found Samantha with multiple stab wounds to the chest, and bruising on her nose and forehead.

Beulow was convicted of second degree murder and awaits sentencing. 04/15/17 Agnes Yarlee, 34, shot to death in Johnston by her boyfriend, Abraham Roberts, 38. Police responded to a call regarding shots fired at an apartment complex. When they arrived, they discovered the body of Agnes with two gunshot wounds. Her four minor children ages 11, 8, 7, and four months old and her mother, 80, had escaped to the neighbors’ home after the shooting. After a search of the apartment building, the alleged offender was not present. Roberts was apprehended by US Customs and Border Protection officials attempting to cross the border into Canada.

He was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Agnes is survived by four minor children, two daughters and two sons.

06/03/17 Mary Dudley, 36, reported shot to death in Des Moines by her husband, Harold Dudley, 50. Police were called to the victim’s apartment due to a male attempting to gain entry to the

6 apartment. Before they arrived, the police were updated that shots had been fired. Upon arrival, the police found the door had been forced open and Mary located on the couch. She had sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the head causing her death. Ames police apprehended Mr. Dudley and he was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree burglary. He awaits trail.

Mary is survived by one minor son. 08/5/17 Jessica Gomez, 26, reported murdered and then burned in an attempt to conceal the crime in Fort Dodge by a man she was seeing Phillip Williams, 25, and her friend, Mackenzie Knigge, 26. Police received a report that Jessica was missing along with Knigge. Jessica’s body was discovered in a ditch in Webster County. The defendants were picked up in Indiana and arrested on first degree murder charges. They await trial. Jessica is survived by three minor children.

2016 03/21/16 Morgan Kaye, 27, shot to death in West Union by her boyfriend, Anthony Hebert, 27. The neighbors report hearing yelling and then a loud bang. Later when a neighbor was walking a dog, they found Morgan’s body. Morgan’s daughter was also in the apartment and was found by police hiding in her bedroom. Hebert was found later 16 miles away with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Hebert died from his wounds. She is survived by that minor daughter. 04/29/16 Tiffany Inghram, 36, shot to death in Danville by her estranged husband, Robert Inghram, 60. The couple was separated after Inghram was charged with sexually abusing one of Tiffany’s daughters.

One of the daughters called 911 after the offender arrived at the home despite a no-contact order while running from the home. She heard gunshots. When the authorities arrived, Tiffany, her mother Wanda Dowell, and the offender were found dead in the home. Tiffany is survived by two minor daughters. 07/26/16 Enola Neff, 75, shot to death in Packwood by her husband, Franklin Neff, 79. Neff called his son-in-law telling him that he had already killed Enola and was going to kill himself because he had just found out he had cancer. When authorities arrived, they discovered Mr. Neff had died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound and Enola also had perished from a gunshot wound.

She is survived by one adult daughter.

09/04/16 Melissa Lewis, 37, strangled and beaten to death in Davenport by her boyfriend, Thomas Lopez, 55. During an altercation between Lopez and Melissa on August 31, Lopez slapped, strangled, and pushed the victim several times. One push caused Melissa to fall back striking her head on a window sill giving her a head injury. Melissa died as a result of her injuries on September 4. Lopez pled guilty to two counts of willful injury causing serious injury. Melissa is survived by one child. 09/17/16 Kathryn Weber, 18, shot to death in Glenwood by her estranged boyfriend, Mark Troutman, 27. Authorities were called to Kathryn’s work regarding a shooting.

Troutman drove from his hometown of Sylvania, Ohio and shot her in her work parking lot. Kathryn had broken up with him months earlier. Troutman was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

10/01/16 Carrissa Rivers, 29, shot to death in Keokuk by her estranged boyfriend, Russell Jerrud Tallmann, 39, in an alley behind a business. Carrissa had moved out of their shared home after he had assaulted her numerous times. Tallmann began stalking her after the separation and threatening her. Authorities discovered Tallman’s body in his home deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Carrissa is survived by one minor child. 10/16/16 Sarah Szabo, 41, shot to death in Decorah by her estranged boyfriend, Craig Freilinger, 55. Freilinger also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities report they had responded to the residence multiple times for domestic disturbances and the couple had broken up weeks before the murder/suicide.

7 10/29/16 Lourdes Flor De Leake, 34, stabbed to death in Perry with a machete by her boyfriend, Carlos Hernandez-Ventura, 25. Police responded to a report of a dead body and blood in a home. When officers arrived, they found Lourdes and her minor daughter Melany Barraza, 14, dead of stab and slice wounds. Juan Jimenez Tejeda, 78 had also been wounded and he was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital where he later died of his injuries. Hernandez-Ventura surrendered himself to a police department in Morrison, IL. He was found guilty of three counts of first degree murder and awaits sentencing.

Lourdes is survived by two minor sons.

12/12/16 Katelynn Gould, 19, reported beaten to death in Des Moines by her boyfriend, Nickolas Pettinger, 31. Authorities were called to a residence in NE Des Moines where they discovered the body of Katelynn in the garage. Pettinger was at the residence when they arrived, but ran from the residence sparking a community search. He was later found blocks away in a garage and taken into custody. Pettinger has been charged with 1st degree murder and awaits trial. 2015 02/24/15 Sherry Haferbecker, 44, shot to death while she was sleeping in Cedar Rapids by Mitchell Haferbecker, 45, her husband.

Haferbecker shot Sherry and then himself. He also shot and killed two pets in the residence. Both Sherry and Mr. Haferbecker were janitors at the Cedar Rapids Schools. He had been terminated from his employment the previous day. He spent most of the day putting his affairs in order. After Sherry didn’t show up for work, the police found Sherry and Haferbecker deceased. She is survived by two adult children. 04/19/15 Mevlida Dzananovic, 24, strangled to death in Urbandale by, Mersed Dautovic, 32, her boyfriend. Dautovic’s brother called law enforcement for a welfare check because of a call from Mersed Dautovic telling them he had messed up and they would never see him again.

Police arrived at the apartment and found Mevlida deceased in the back of Dautovic’s car and Dautovic had killed himself by hanging. There was a current protective order in place. She is survived by one minor son 05/01/15 Miranda Hogan, 20, shot to death in Dubuque by her boyfriend, Andrew Birch, 27. The two had lived together for almost a year and their relationship was on again off again. Miranda told Birch she was moving to Indiana to go to school and Birch told her he wasn’t going to wait for her and they broke up. She was in the process of moving out when Birch shot Miranda in the head and killed her.

He turned the gun on himself and died as a result of the self-inflicted gunshot wounds. They were found when neither party showed up for work.

06/17/15 Kaydyesha Lemon, 21, stabbed to death in Dubuque by her boyfriend Eddie Hicks, 26. The couple had been in an intimate relationship however recently separated. Neighbors reported hearing several altercations between Kaydyesha and Hicks. She grabbed a knife in an attempt to defend herself from the brutal attack. Hicks got the knife away from her and stabbed Kaydyesha multiple times. The suspect was found in an alley and transported to the hospital for injuries. Kaydyesha died at the hospital. Hicks was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.

06/23/15 Cornelia Ann Stead, 43, stabbed to death in Sioux City by her boyfriend, Isack Abdinur, 35.

The two lived together off and on for a few years with multiple moves to various family residences. After Cornelia refused to allow Abdinur into the bedroom where she was sleeping. He broke in, assaulted her and stabbed her 24 times with a kitchen knife while her great-nieces were in the room. Some of the children present fled the apartment while others hid in the bedroom until police arrived. Abdinur fled the apartment and was later apprehended by law enforcement a few blocks away. He was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. She is survived by one adult daughter.

8 10/25/15 Sabrina Hustad-Janish, 44, stabbed to death in Shellsburg by David Miller, 32, her boyfriend. The day before her death, she told a very close friend that she was thinking of leaving him. The next day her body was found at Miller’s residence with multiple stab wounds and evidence of strangulation. Miller was apprehended a short time later walking along a rural road in Benton County. Miller was arrested for probation violation and second degree theft charges. He later was charged with murder in the first degree. A jury trial found him guilty of voluntary manslaughter and second degree theft.

11/22/15 Amy Fraaken, 42, shot to death in Des Moines by Barney Fraaken, 47, her husband. Fraaken shot Amy and their 16 year old daughter. He then called 911 to report that he had shot them. When officers arrived, he had attempted to shoot himself but survived the wounds. He has recovered and been charged with two counts of first degree murder. He pled guilty to murdering his wife and will spend life in prison. The plea deal included dropping murder charges for his daughter. She is survived by one adult child. 12/13/15 Michelle Key, 51, shot to death in Hampton by her on again-off again boyfriend of 11 years, Ronald Rand, 61.

She was shot in the neck by Ronald Lee Rand from a sawed off shot gun that he had gotten from a friend. She was spending the weekend with him and they were having a good time Ronald said in his testimony in August 2016. Ronald did not call law enforcement but texted his daughter and called his friend after he shot her. Law enforcement was called by his friend and arrived around an hour after she was shot. Rand was convicted of first degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. Michelle is survived by a son.

2014 01/30/14 Ingrid Huber Livingston, 41, shot to death in Cedar Rapids by Robert Livingston, 47, her estranged husband. Livingston shot Ingrid and his mother-in-law Linda Huber, 73, and then turned the gun on himself. Two school aged children were present in the home during the murders and one of the daughters called the police after it happened. Ingrid and her two daughters had recently moved out of the family home and in with her mother. Livingston died as a result of his self-inflicted wounds. 2/21/14 LuElla Koopman, 52, shot to death in Cedar Rapids, by her estranged husband Dennis Lee Koopman, 54.

LuElla had filed from divorce from her husband. He followed her to her apartment, blocked her in with his vehicle, and then opened fire. He then turned the rifle on himself and died from his self-inflicted wounds. The suspect was armed with both a long rifle and a handgun.

2/26/14 Michaela Jordan, 30, shot to death in Estherville, by her boyfriend Scott Sudbeck, 35. Michaela was shot outside her residence as she was entering her home and then died on the floor of her home while her 4 children, mother, brother and two nephews were present. Sudbeck was charged with first degree murder and pled guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison. Michaela is survived by four minor children. 4/11/14 Vallerie Cory, 49, Shot to death in Cambridge, by her husband Jeremy Cory, 44. Vallerie had not been seen for four days and a co-worker called police to perform a welfare check.

When police arrived at the house Jeremy would not let them search the upstairs of the house. After obtaining a warrant the police found Vallerie’s decomposing body and the coroner estimated that after being shot 18 times she was left for four days. Jeremy Cory was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Vallerie is survived by an adult son.

6/30/14 Chantele Crowley, 39, strangled to death in Cedar Rapids, by her estranged husband Shawn Crowley, 44. Shantele was found by police deceased in a home that she shared off and on with her husband after relatives requested a welfare check. Shawn Crowley is charged

9 with first degree murder and pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter and received 32 years in prison. Chantele is survived by one adult son. 7/8/14 Crystal Gaffney, 29, beat to death in Walker, by her estranged boyfriend and father of her youngest child Shaun Hogan. Crystal was beaten and left along a rural road in Linn County.

An amber alert was issued for Gaffney’s three children but they were later found safe. The police arrested Hogan two days later in Waterloo. He has pled guilty to 2nd degree murder in the case and was sentenced to 50 years in prison. Crystal is survived by three minor children.

09/08/14 Tong Shao, 20, strangled to death in Ames, by her boyfriend Xiangnan Li. Tong was an international student at Iowa State University. Her boyfriend Li was an international student at the University of Iowa. The victim was reported missing on September 17 to the Ames Police Department. Police found her body in the trunk of a car in Iowa City on September 26. Li left the country for China. Li was convicted of first degree murder in legal proceedings held in China and sentenced to life in prison. 12/15/14 Melissa Downing, 48, Shot to death in Des Moines, by her live-in boyfriend, Matthew Hansen.

Hansen shot Melissa in their shared residence and then turned the gun on himself. Police were notified when Melissa didn’t show up for work in the morning. Officers found the bodies of both Melissa and Hansen when they entered the residence. 2013 6/29/13 Teresa Rowan, 43, Shot to death in Muscatine by Lance Stormm, 39, live-in boyfriend. Lance shot Teresa and then turned the gun on himself. Police found Teresa deceased as the tactical team entered the house. Stormm was still alive. He was transported to the University of Iowa where he later died. Lori is survived by her two adult children, a daughter and a son.

8/5/13 Justina Smith, 30, stabbed to death in Northwood by Tyrone Washington, Jr, 39, estranged boyfriend. Tyrone stabbed Justina in a park and then fled in her car. He led police on a multi-county chase and was finally apprehended in Scott County. Justina is survived by two minor children. Tyrone was found guilty of first degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison. 9/25/13 Kerry O’Clair Jefferson, was beaten and stabbed to death in Tama by her husband Dustin Jefferson, 40 and his mother Ginger Jefferson, 57. Police responded to a wellness check to discover the body of Kerry. The autopsy showed stab wounds to the neck and blunt force trauma were the cause of death.

After the investigation, the police arrested Ginger Jefferson and charged her with first degree murder and arrested Dustin Jefferson charging him with aiding and abeting. Kerry was assisting the Meskwaki Nation law enforcement in a sexual assault case against Dustin Jefferson. He was reported angry about her cooperation in that investigation. Ginger Jefferson has been convicted of first degree murder and will serve life in prison. Dustin Jefferson was convicted of aiding and abeting first degree murder and will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole. 10/15/13 Millisa Cox, 44, Shot to death in Council Bluffs by Darwin Cox, 55, her husband.

Darwin shot Millisa and then turned the gun on himself. Cox held the police at bay for about an hour before the tactical team was able to enter the house. Darwin survived the attempted suicide and pled guilty to charges of voluntary manslaughter, intimidation with a dangerous weapon with intent, and going armed with intent. Millisa is survived by an adult daughter and a minor son.

12/08/13 Sarah Grimmius, 37, Beat to death in rural Spirit Lake by Tailer Handsaker, 21, a man she was dating. Tailer allegedly wrapped the body in bedding and duct tape and left her in the basement of his Grandmother’s home. Blood was discovered on the steps to the

10 basement, the basement floor and the bed. Handsaker pled guilty to second degree murder and was sentenced to 70 years in prison. 2012 1/13/12 Lori Yeager, 45, Shot to death in Mount Ayr by Robert Taylor, 40, live-in boyfriend. Robert shot Lori in front of their 9 year old daughter and then fled the house.

Police began searching for the offender and later found him on a stretch of interstate, just inside the Iowa border. As police approached the vehicle the offender exited, faced the officer, pulled out his gun and took his own life. Lori is survived by her minor daughter, an adult daughter and a step-son from a prior marriage.

1/29/12 Emily Fazzino, 32, Died from multiple head and neck injuries in Boone allegedly by her estranged husband, Alexander Fazzino, 39. The victim had recently filed for divorce and had her husband served with the papers. He fled with the children to Missouri and she obtained a court order for him to return the children to Boone. The divorcing couple was living in the same home. She had been at a wrestling tournament with her sister and on the way home called her dad crying and during depositions he stated he heard fear in her voice. She went home and was taking a bath while their children were in the basement watching a movie.

Her husband allegedly drowned her in the bathtub. He was acquitted on first degree murder charges.

3/21/12 Lindsay Nichols, 22, Shot to death in Jesup by Timothy Roses, 44, ex-boyfriend. Roses rented a vehicle and followed Nichols to Jesup. He argued with her outside of the home of her new boyfriend and tried to physically put her in his vehicle. Nichols fought back and Roses pulled out a gun and shot her in the chest. Roses then committed suicide. 05/26/12 Lisa Techel, 23, shot to death in Agency, by Seth Techel, 22, husband. Seth called police to report he had been showering when he heard a gunshot. He claimed he exited the shower and found his wife lying on their bed with a gunshot wound.

Police found no evidence of an intruder, nor did they find anything had been taken from the house. The shotgun, presumed to be the murder weapon, was found 90 ft. from the door of the house. Police found evidence Seth was having an extra-marital affair and in mid-May had communicated to his mistress that everything would be okay “in a few weeks.” Lisa was about 17 weeks pregnant when she was killed. The offender has been charged with 1st degree murder and non-consensual termination of a human pregnancy. The first two trials resulted in hung juries. At the third trial Seth Techel was found guilty of 1st degree murder and non-consensual termination of a pregnancy and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

06/17/12 Judy Vanlo, 18, beaten to death in Des Moines, by Raymond Benitez, 19, boyfriend. The victim was found by a family member behind a locked door in their basement, with obvious injury to her face and body. Judy was 2 months pregnant with the offender’s child. The offender was listed as a person of interest in the case by police and was located a few weeks later by US Border Patrol Agents, while trying to cross the border from Texas into Mexico. He was extradited to Iowa to stand trial where he was convicted of second degree murder and willful injury. He was sentenced to 50 years and 10 years to be served consecutively.

07/10/12 Sarah “Dawn” Winters, 40, strangled to death in Mason City, by Aaron Harris, 35, boyfriend. A witness stated he observed the couple arguing in the parking lot earlier in the day and he assisted in separating the two and Dawn left the area. The witness assumed she must have returned again later in the day. Upon authorities’ arrival to the offender’s residence, Dawn was found unresponsive. Dawn is survived by an adult daughter. Harris was convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. 08/09/12 Crystal Newman, 32, shot to death in Burlington, by Chico Newman, 38, husband.

Police were dispatched to the home to check the welfare of the occupants after reports of a domestic dispute. Police forced entry into the home and found Crystal deceased from an apparent gunshot wound. It is unclear whether or not Crystal’s children were in the home

11 at the time of the shooting, but police did state “DHS was contacted to assist in the investigation and ensure the safety of the children.” Crystal is survived by two minor children. Chico Newman was convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. 10/20/12 Jaclyn Powell, 25, Strangled to death in Ogden, by Joshua Powell, 28, husband. Mr. Powell admitted to authorities that he and his wife had been arguing and he reported intentionally striking her at least one time in the face. He stated he later checked for a pulse and couldn’t find one.

Mr. Powell did not report the incident until the following day. The Medical Examiner later determined the cause of death to be due to strangulation. Joshua Powell was convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Jaclyn is survived by two minor children, a son and daughter. 2011 1/7/11 Teresa Miller, 51, Shot to death in Knoxville by Terry Cobbins, 31, a man hired by her husband, Michael Miller, 42 to kill her. Michael Miller was reported to be having an affair and asking Cobbins to kill his wife. On the day of the murder, Miller reportedly rented a car for Cobbins.

Cobbins left the state with his wife and six children. Teresa’s sister reported that Teresa had recently told her that if anything happened to her “it’s Michael.” When Michael was questioned, he indicated Teresa may have been killed by his mistress. Terry Cobbins and Michael Miller have both been convicted of 1st degree murder. Teresa is survived by three adult children, one minor son, and five grandchildren. 1/17/11 Wanda Isenberg, 38, killed by blunt force in Davenport by Eric Olson, 36, who she had dated. There was a history of domestic abuse against Wanda by Eric and a protective order was in force at the time of the murder.

Eric had been arrested November, 12, 2010 after he threw Wanda to the ground and stomped on her with his boots. He was arrested again January 13, 2011 after he pushed her to the ground and pulled her hair. Wanda had acquired a temporary protection order after the January 13 incident. Wanda was found dead in the street with a shoe mark on her face and tire tracks down the length of her body. Olson was convicted of Homicide by vehicle (recklessness) and leaving the scene of a fatality accident. He received sentences of 10 and 5 years in prison. Wanda is survived by three grown daughters.

2/24/11 Shani Smith, 40, Shot to death in Dubuque by her live-in boyfriend of 21 years, Teodoro Borrego, 52. Shani had planned to leave the offender and had disclosed this to him a month prior to her death. The offender was apprehended in Oklahoma City, brought back to Iowa and charged with 1st degree murder. He later pled to murder in the 2nd degree. Shani is survived by two adult children. 3/03/11 Jamie Jackson, 39, Exact cause of death unknown, the victim’s burned body was discovered in a rural shed in Grand Mound owned by her ex-boyfriend Craig Diercks. The night of the fire, the offender called a friend and told him he was going to “end it all.” He also stated, “What he did he could not replace.” The friend drove to the offender’s home after the phone call and found the shed engulfed in flames.

The offender’s burned body was later recovered from the fire as well. Jamie is survived by two children. 5/01/11 Sharon Gerot, 54, shot to death outside of her home in Riverside by her longtime partner, Thomas Lee Hansen, 70. The offender confessed he had been arguing sporadically with the victim prior to her going outside to complete yard work. The offender stated he went to the garage, grabbed a semi-automatic handgun, loaded the weapon, walked through the house, exiting through a glass door leading to their deck and fired one shot at the victim as she was mowing the lawn. A neighbor saw the victim fall from the lawn mower

12 after she had been shot and called the police. The offender has been convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to 50 years. Sharon is survived by two adult daughters. 5/11/11 Karen McCoy, 68, shot to death at her residence in Shambaugh, by her husband Frank McCoy Sr., 68, who then shot and killed himself. Dispatch received a call from the offender stating he had killed his wife and was going to kill himself. Karen is survived by two adult children. 6/4/11 Judy “Renee” Petersen, 36, stabbed to death in her residence in Greene by her husband Thomas Petersen, 39. Renee, Renee’s 17 year old son and the offender had reportedly been arguing and the son left the residence to go fishing.

When the son returned to the residence two hours later, he found Renee lying on the floor unresponsive, with blood on the floor around her and bent and bloody knives nearby. The minor 2 year old son and the offender were not in the house. Renee’s son called police and an amber alert was issued for the 2 year old. The offender was spotted in South Dakota and a police chase ensued. During the pursuit Thomas rammed a police vehicle causing it to flip several times. He then left his 2 year old on the side of the road and rammed another police car head on. The offender is facing 2 counts of attempted murder, 2 counts of aggravated assault on a police officer, reckless driving, eluding and resisting arrest in South Dakota.

He has been convicted of 1st degree murder in the stabbing death of Renee in Iowa. There had been a history of domestic violence between the offender and the victim. On April 7th , 2011, police were called out to the residence after an argument began between Thomas, Renee and his stepson. Thomas left before police arrived, but was called on his cell phone and warned not to return until morning or face charges. Police were called back to the house a few hours later, after Thomas had reportedly kicked in the garage door. Thomas admitted to being in the house and talking to his wife. She told him to leave and stated she was calling 911.

Thomas was arrested and charged with Interference with Official Acts in this incident. Renee is survived by two minor sons and one minor daughter.

8/31/11 Laura Welch, beaten to death in Des Moines by her live-in boyfriend Kevin Sellers, 39. While the details of the crime are still unknown, autopsy results revealed the cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma within hours of her death. Sellers was convicted of attempted murder, and 2 counts of willful injury. He received sentences of 25 yrs, 15 yrs and 15yrs respectively. Laura is survived by three adult children. 2010 1/11/10 Patricia Blum, 67, Strangled and suffocated to death in Washington by her husband James Dean Blum, 70. The offender pinned his wife face down on a couch and suffocated her.

He admitted to law enforcement that he wanted to kill his wife. He was convicted of second degree murder.

1/12/10 Laura Wharff, 51 Shot to death in Altoona with a deer slug by her husband Mark Wharff, 51. He then committed suicide. Laura is survived by their adult son. 1/16/10 Ashley Singh, 20 Shot to death in Leon by her fiancé Brandan Broich, 21. He then committed suicide. Ashley’s younger sister lived with the couple and called 911 when she heard the gunshots. Ashley is survived by their 3 year old son who was not home at the time of the murder-suicide. 1/22/10 Tawny Tomberlin, 43, Shot to death in Cedar Rapids by Christopher Vogt, 42, who she had dated. Tawney left the offender in summer 2009 but he stalked her.

When she refused to talk with him, he burst into the home she shared with her brother and shot her to death

13 with a rifle. He also shot and wounded her brother, Duane Tomberlin Jr., 48, and James Cambell, 27. The offender had a history of conviction for harassment, assault, and felony second-offense stalking. In September 2009, he was charged with domestic assault in Iowa County and a no-contact order was filed for Tawney. Deputies tracked the offender using his cell phone signal. He had committed suicide in his truck by shooting himself. 3/7/10 Sara McKay 34, beat with a baseball bat and strangled in Iowa City by Eric Osborn, 24, the man she lived with. He confessed that he hit her with a baseball bat then strangled her.

He then took alcohol and valium, drank bleach, and cut his wrists and neck in attempted suicide. He passed out and called his mother when he awoke. His mother contacted law enforcement. Osborn was convicted of 2nd degree murder and received a 50 year sentence. Sara is survived by her 9 year old daughter. 3/26/2010 Machelle Nichols West, 46, Shot to death in Waterloo by her husband, Charles West, 55. He then committed suicide. The victim’s daughter told police that her mom had been a prostitute and Charles was her pimp. He had accused her of infidelity and told her “You put your friends first I will kill you” and “If I can’t have you, neither can they.” The daughter reported that there was a history of domestic violence not reported because her mother was afraid of the perpetrator.

Machelle is survived by her 32 year-old daughter and 29 year old son.

4/5/10 Randi Gilmore, 23, Shot to death in Des Moines by her husband, Donte Gilmore, 25, with a gun he legally owned. The victim was shot multiple times standing on a landing then fell down the basement steps. The reported perpetrator called his parents who contacted police. He has been convicted of 1st degree murder. The victim is survived by their three daughters who are 6 years old and under. The children were present in the home at the time of the murder. 6/3/10 Deborah Gardner, 46, Shot to death in Ottumwa by William Gardner, 47, her husband. He then committed suicide. The couple’s only son had died in a motorcycle crash a year earlier.

Relatives and friends said this caused constant friction between them. On the night of the murder-suicide, William went to a friend’s home, raised him from bed, and asked him to come to his home. The friend had often mediated arguments between the couple. When they arrived at the house, William told him “I just shot her in the head. I couldn’t take it anymore.” The victim had been shot in the head and had a burning cigarette at her side. Law enforcement and the friend later found him shot in the backyard. 6/11/10 Paige Gallo, 19, Shot to death in Lake City by Luke Schleisman, 20, her fiancé who she lived with.

He also shot her friend Heather Campbell, 20 to death then committed suicide. The perpetrator came to the home with a gun. Paige told Heather to leave, but she refused to leave them alone. The perpetrator had threatened to commit suicide in front of a previous girlfriend in April 2009. He was released from probation two months earlier related to a domestic abuse and weapon conviction with a former girlfriend. He had threatened to make the girlfriend feel guilty by killing himself in front of her. He was barred from having guns, but had at least three in the house he shared with the victim.

6/27/10 Anessa Johnson, 40, Stabbed to death in Ottumwa by her husband, Christopher Johnson, 31. He led law enforcement on a car chase to Burlington where is car hit a bridge guardrail and flipped over. He sustained minor injuries. He has been convicted of first degree murder. Anessa is survived by a 20 year old son, an 11 year old daughter, and twin grandchildren.

14 10/2/10 Angela Gabel, 30, Shot to death in Allamakee County by Christopher Thompson, 33, the man whom she lived with and had a 7½ month old child with. The alleged perpetrator then called 911. He reported that he had argued with Angela and asked her to leave. She went to her car and made a phone call to her daughter. He thought she was calling her mother and went upstairs for a rifle that was kept loaded in their bedroom. He shot at her in the car from the house. He shot her again from about three feet when he went to the car and she was hit in the head, but still alive. He reported that he shot her the second time “to put her out of her misery.” The alleged perpetrator had been arrested for domestic abuse assault in 2009 and was found negotiated a plea to simple assault.

He has been convicted of 2nd degree murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison. Angela is survived by six children, an adult daughter, two adult sons, 17 year old twin daughters, and a 7½ month old son. The baby was present at the time of the murder. 10/9/10 Angelina Ancer, 43, Shot to death in Newton by Jay Mack, 42, her fiancé who she lived with. The alleged perpetrator went to their garage during an argument, retrieved a gun, returned and shot her several times, then called 911. He has been convicted of 1st degree murder.

10/11/10 Carrie Russell, 24, Shot to death in Des Moines by Robert Sears, 25, who she lived with until leaving in August 2010. Robert waited for her to return to her home after work, went to the car, fired several shots through the car window, and fatally shot her in the head. The driver of the car, Leona Fatino, was shot in the leg. He then went to the home they formerly shared and committed suicide. Carrie secured a domestic abuse protection order in September because he had been stalking her since the break-up. She wrote to the Judge, “I am afraid for my safety. I’ve been followed to public places.

He drives past the house where I am staying. He has come to the place I work. I am very afraid he might hurt me and my family and friends. He is very angry I left him, and I don’t know what he is capable of doing.” Two weeks before the murder, he proposed marriage to her as she returned to her home from work. She turned him down.

12/21/10 Kelsey Stahl, 24, Shot to death in Clinton by Jason Tate, 32, a man she dated. Law Enforcement made a well-being check at Kelsey’s apartment and found her dead. The reported perpetrator was arrested on December 25 in Chicago with her car. He has been convicted of murder in the 1st degree and sentenced to life in prison. 12/5/10 Brigett Wirtjes, 27, Sexually assaulted, contributing to her death in Manly by Tyler Wirtjes, 26, her husband. The couple and two friends were drinking. Brigett consumed alcohol and passed out. Tyler and the two friends then sexually assaulted Brigett while she was unconscious.

At some point during the sexual assault, or later in the evening, Brigett stopped breathing and died. The cause of death was not determined, with several possibilities including alcohol overdose, blunt force head injury, and unintentional or intentional asphyxiation. All three perpetrators were convicted of varying degrees of sexual assault; however, none have been charged with her death. 2009 1/4/09 Cyd Richards, 46, Strangled to death in Burlington Dennis Duane Richards, 58, her former husband and current fiancé. They were married in 2001, divorced in 2007, and engaged again in December 2008.

In 2008, Cyd moved and asked family not to tell Dennis where she lived. She rode her bike to work so he wouldn’t see her car. An autopsy determined that Cyd died from strangulation that shattered her voice box and head and facial wounds. She died hours before her home was set on fire. She is survived by two grown daughters. The offender was convicted of 2nd degree murder and 2nd degree arson and sentenced to 60 years in prison.

15 2/21/09 Tina Marie O’Leary, 39, Strangled to death in Lone Tree by Timothy Mellinger, 51, a man she had lived with. He then committed suicide by shooting himself. Sheriff Deputies had a request for a welfare check at the home and discovered the deaths. The victim and perpetrator’s relationship of two years ended about three months prior to the murder. Tina had filed a criminal trespass warning on January 1 requesting that all contact and communication from the perpetrator be ceased. Tina is survived by two minor daughters and a minor son.

Her cell phone was in her hand when shot. He shot her in their home. He then went to shoot a man with whom he believed Rachelle was having an affair, but law enforcement arrived at the man’s home first. There had been at least two domestic abuse calls to the police in recent months. He was convicted of 1st degree murder. Rachelle is survived by an adult daughter and a minor daughter. 6/29/09 Ramona Hunt, 43, Stabbed to death in Winterset by her former live-in partner, Clarence Ralph Fenton, 49. Neighbors detained the perpetrator until police arrived. The neighbors also suffered stab wounds.

The perpetrator was jailed in 2006 after beating Ramona because he couldn’t find the butter in the refrigerator. He broke a protection order held by Ramona in May 2009 and was jailed for three days. Ramona called police three days before the murder, a warrant was issued, but an arrest had not yet been made. Neighbors said Fenton had driven by on the day of the murder. When he broke in, she had her 8 year old grandson hide in the bathroom. Fenton escaped out a window and was detained by neighbors until police arrived. He was convicted of 1st degree murder. Ramona is survived by three adult daughters, two adult sons, and nine grandchildren.

7/18/09 Holly Rae Durben, 29, shot to death in rural Fremont County, Iowa by her boyfriend, Brian Davis. She was found shot to death in the head. The death was listed as “undetermined” although the crime scene was allegedly staged as a suicide. Davis claimed she committed suicide while he was in another room. The autopsy showed signs of strangulation. Davis had a significant, documented history of violating the protection order, strangling Holly, and threatening to kill her. After five years of investigation, Davis was charged with her murder. He was convicted of first degree murder in Holly’s death and is awaiting sentencing.

7/12/09 Doretta Glascock, 56, shot to death in Cincinnati, Iowa by her husband, Jackie Glascock Sr., 66. Her husband shot himself in attempt of suicide, but survived the wound. He was arrested in June 2009 for an assault on his wife. The perpetrator was found incompetent to be tried in November 2010. Later he was convicted during a bench trial and sentenced to 50 years in prison. 9/18/09 Melissa Kay Dean, 38, Beat to death in Des Moines by Christopher Phipps, 42, the man she lived with. She was his secretary in his auto sales business. At 5:15 a.m. he called 911 from a strip mall pay phone reporting he accidently killed his girlfriend.

He showed police where to find her body in his truck between some wood, under a blanket and several tires. Her head was beaten and her throat slashed. Police believe she was killed at home then driven to the strip mall. Phipps had four domestic abuse or assault causing injury convictions. He was convicted of 1st degree murder. Melissa is survived by her 13 yearold son and 8 year old twins, a boy and a girl. 11/11/09 TereseAnn Lynch, 30 Shot to death in Des Moines by her estranged husband, Randal Todd Moore, 38. The perpetrator kidnapped the victim in a mall parking lot, took her to their former home, and shot her.